7 travel insurance tips for hurricane season

June 1 marks the start of the 2013 hurricane season, and
predictions say it could be a tough one. For example, an
influential forecast from meteorologists at Colorado State
University projects that the Atlantic region — which includes the
Caribbean — will see 18 named storms, nine hurricanes and four
major hurricanes. An average season brings 12 storms, six
hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The outlook is unwelcome news for travelers who remember the
disruptions and damage caused last October by Sandy, the hurricane
that combined with two other storm systems to slam into the East
Coast as a superstorm. “Who would have ever thought that so many
people would have been stranded for so long in New York?” says
Linda Kundell, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Travel Insurance
Association.

And although the bulk of hurricanes hit in August, September and
October, the 2012 season jumped the gun in May with tropical storms
Alberto and Beryl. The season traditionally ends Nov. 30.

When storms disrupt your travel plans, the right travel
insurance policy can cover costs related to flight delays,
unexpected hotel stays and transportation rerouting. Here are seven
expert tips on how to protect your vacation during the height of
hurricane season.

‘Insure’ your trip goes well

Shop around. No two travel
insurance policies are exactly the same, warns consumer advocate
Christopher Elliott. “They vary based on your age, state of
residence and coverage,” says Elliott, author of “Scammed: How to
Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes,
Swindles and Shady Deals.”

He recommends that travelers get prices from at least two of the
three most common sources of travel insurance: travel insurance
companies; travel agents; and travel providers, such as airlines,
cruise lines or tour operators. Expect to pay a premium equal to 4
percent to 8 percent of your trip’s prepaid, nonrefundable cost, he
says, though a less restrictive “cancel for any reason” policy can
cost as much as 10 percent.

Buy early. Once a tropical
storm has formed, you won’t be able to buy travel insurance for
trips potentially in its path. “If it’s already been named and
sighted, it will be too late,” Kundell says. Purchasing your
insurance at the same time you book your trip ensures you’ll have
protection for cancellations and interruptions, she says.

Examine the fine print. “It’s
better to ask about your policy and what it does and doesn’t cover
before it becomes an issue,” Elliott says. Call if you have any
questions as soon as you receive your insurance documents. Many
travel insurance companies give customers up to 10 days to cancel
and receive a refund if the policy doesn’t meet their needs, he
says.

Keep receipts. Most travel
insurance policies require you to pay any covered expenses upfront
and then submit for reimbursement. So keeping track of your
expenses in a verifiable way is crucial, Kundell says. “Keep
receipts for everything,” she says, including hotel rooms,
transportation and meals.

Get things in writing. It
might not make you a popular person at the service counter, but if
you incur costs because your flights are delayed or canceled, get
the reason in writing if possible, Elliott says. “You can never
have enough documentation. A lot of claims are rejected because
travelers can’t prove a cause of delay,” he says. “Finding out the
reason long after your trip can be difficult — if not
impossible.”

Be flexible. Cruise lovers
are often drawn to hurricane-season deals in the region where
storms brew. In those cases, travel insurance is “a no-brainer,”
says Erica Silverstein, features editor at CruiseCritic.com. “There
are a lot of moving parts to a cruise,” which makes it all the more
likely that weather could disrupt one or more legs.

All cruise ship lines have contingencies in place for
hurricanes; many change routes to avoid rough seas. But travel
insurance policies don’t cover itinerary swaps, Silverstein warns.
“If it leaves on schedule and returns on schedule but goes to
different ports, you will not get reimbursed,” she says. “You still
had a vacation.”

Her best advice is to cruise with an open mind. “If you don’t
set your heart on something extremely specific, you’ll be OK,” she
says. She urges cruisers to draw up their own contingency plans,
just in case bad weather arises. “Don’t schedule something
important for the Monday after your trip. Talk to your dog sitter:
‘Can you take Fluffy an extra day if we get stuck?'”

Remember the big picture.
Many travelers balk at paying the extra fees for travel insurance,
but hurricane season is no time to skimp. “It can save you a lot of
money in the end,” Silverstein says, noting that hotel stays and
other out-of-pocket costs can add up when hurricanes throw travel
out of whack. “It’s not that much for what it can provide.”